Lotus Cup UK kicks off at Snetterton in April with a full grid expected. (Photo: SnappyRacers.com)

The Elise Trophy will run as a championship for the first time in 2014, with a full entry expected. (Photo: SnappyRacers.com)

The FIA-sanctioned Lotus Cup Europe International Series is already closed to new registrations, with 40 drivers set to compete during the season, which visits many of the continent’s best circuits.

The opening rounds of the Lotus Cup Speed Championship and the Elise Trophy’s inaugural championship season get underway in just a few weeks’ time, and with all available places being filled already for the Speed Championship, LoTRDC have extended their commitment for the opening round by five places and will be looking to do the same at all other rounds. The Elise Trophy has 40 drivers placed for its opening round, with the four remaining slots expected to be filled before the end of February. The Lotus Cup UK grid has hit 39 entries and is also expected to be at capacity this month, with two titles on offer to the competitors.

The Lotus Cup Speed Championship heads to North Weald in Essex on 16 March, with an entry list that includes Martin Donnelly. The former F1 star will competing in a sprint for the first time alongside his son Stefan, who will have his first taste of motorsport at any level. The brand new sprint series has encouraged more new competitors into motorsport, and it is hoped that many will progress into racing.

Three weeks’ later, Snetterton will host the second round of the series, along with the start of the LoTRDC racing season. Lotus Cup UK will race on the Saturday, followed by the first points-paying round of the Elise Trophy. The following weekend, Lotus Cup Europe will feature on the race card for the Bosch Historic - Jim Clark Revival event at Germany’s Hockenheim circuit.

LoTRDC’s Paul Golding said: “It’s great to have so many entries confirmed for all five of our championships this year. The early commitment by so many drivers has meant we’ve been able to increase track time for Lotus Cup Europe as well as at the opening two rounds of Lotus Cup UK, while at the other end of the spectrum we’ve already purchase additional entries at the opening sprint of the season by an extra five places. All three of our current champions, Andy Napier, Simon Deacon and Thomas Dehaibe will be defending their titles, which is also fantastic. We’re also welcoming Lotus owners and enthusiasts from across the continent to our events and hope to see many of them there.”